United, who are keen to blood a number of their talented crop of youngsters next season, also agreed contracts with seven young players - including four members of the young squad which reached the FA Youth Cup Final in 2011.

Callum McFadzean, Aaron Barry and Jordan Chapell have also agreed extensions to their current deals, as have fellow youngsters Terry Kennedy, Jahmal Smith, Elliott Whitehouse and Jordan Hodder.

“I’m happy to sign a new deal at United,” Kennedy said.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to repay the club, both this season and in the future, for the faith they’ve shown in me.”

United begin their third successive League One campaign on August 3, when they entertain Notts County at Bramall Lane.

They travel to newly-promoted Bradford City later that month, on August 24, and then go to Rotherham United’s New York Stadium on September 7.

The home games against Bradford and Rotherham are on January 18 and March 8 respectively. United are also at home on Boxing Day, against Oldham, and on the last day of the season, when they face Coventry City on May 3.

Weir, meanwhile, is hoping to confirm his United backroom staff in the coming days.

The former Everton youth coach told the media in his first briefing that he was working to bring his own people in, but declined to reveal who his targets are.

Chris Morgan, who oversaw United’s doomed Play-Off campaign last season as manager, has reverted back to his coaching role.

David Unsworth, who assisted him, is understood to have been earmarked for a role, too, after rejecting an approach to manage Scottish side Kilmarnock.